Box



July 24, 1923. 1,463,059

J, F. MATTHEWS' BOX Filed May 6. 1922 g'rvuentoz 7 (14/1465 fim'rmgns aw a I Patented July 24, 1923.

1,463,059 PArT: OFFICE.

JAMES F. MATTHEWS, or NORTH AUGUSTA, souTH CAROLINA, Assrenon or FIFTY- ONE ONE-HUNDREDTHS To WADE n. WHITE, or AUGUSTA, GEORGIA.

BOX.

Application filed May 6,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES F. MATTHEWS,

a citizen of the United States, residing at North Augusta, in the county of Aiken and State, of South Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in boxes, crates and the like, and has for its primary object the provision of adjustable means for varying the interior size of the box and for clamping articles placed therein to prevent their vibration and possible breakage.

Another important object of the inven tion is to provide a receptacle of the above character having an adjustable bar or partition associated therewith and simple actuating means for the bar. or partition arranged so as to be easily manipulated and at the same time disposed in such relation to the receptacle as to be free from accidental movement.

A further object of the invention is to provide an adjustable member as above set forth and resilient means for retaining the member in the desired adjusted position so that the member will be subject to slight movement in order to properly hold the contents of the receptacle against vibration. I i

.A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of a cam actuator for the adjustable member which, when are ranged in a position to hold theadjustable member in its adjusted position will not be subject to accidental movement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a movable member of the above character which is constructed so that the same can be deflected for the accommodation of articles of different sizes in the container with which the member is associated.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive arrangement for the accomplishment of the above objects which can be applied to boxes, crates and the like which are now in constant use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming 1922. Serial No. 559,014.

apart of the, description and wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a perspective'view ofa container with the invention applied thereto,

Figure 2' is a transversesection through the same, I i Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2,

Figure 4. is a fragmentary transverse section of a container illustrating the preferred adjustable member associated therewith, and a i Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the preferred adjustable member.-

In the drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown-the embodiments of the invention which are at present preferred, the numeral 6 designates a receptacle such as ,a box or crate of the type usuallyemployed for transporting. glass articles such as bottles containing beverages. This receptacle in the present instances consists of a bottom, a pair of sides 7, and

a pair of ends 8, the latter each being provided with a hand. hole 9 of any desired configuration for the convenience of those transporting the receptacle. Each end wall 8 of the receptacle is provided. in its outer face with recesses 10 extending transversely of the receptacle and from opposite ends of the hand hole 9 therein. Ordinarily boxes or crates ,for carrying bottles are provided, with a plurality of intersecting partitions so .as to form a separate compartment or pocket for each bottle so as to prevent rattling and breakage thereof. The present invention aims to eliminate the expense incident to i the provision of a plurality of intersecting possible movement by the. i.

"' berIll. I

h add may extend from the bottom of the receptacle to the-top edge thereof and from one side 7 to the other." This board is adapted for movement longitudinally of the receptacle or from one end thereof to the other, and in .order that this board can be vmoved in this direction without binding 1n any Way, its vertical s1de edges are pro-,:

vided adjacent the upper and lower ends thereof with a pair of grooves 12 adapted to receive a pair of spaced parallel ribs 13 carried by the'inner faces'of the sides 7 of the receptacle. These "ribs are parallel to the bottom of the receptacle and as seen in Figs. 1" and 3* extend only a slight "distance inwardly of the receptacle from an end S thereofi "It'vvill of course be obvious that the ribs and grooves may be reversed so that the'grooves are provided in the sides of the receptacle while the ribs are provided on the edges of the movable memln'order that the adjustable member will be resiliently retained in engagement with article s positioned in the receptacle the relativ'eouter face of theboard 11 or the face ad- 'jacent the end wall 8 from which the ribs 13 extend is providedwith a flat resilient plate or "spring lt'arranged to extend transversely of the receptacle and secured at one end by means .of a rivet 15 or other suitable means. The other end of the spring 1 1 is free as shown, and the intermediate portion ofthe spring is bowed outwardly to extend slightlyinto the hand hole 9 when the adjustable member is arranged close to the end wall having this hand hole therein. v The "means I provide'for'moving the mem- :bGI 11 toward the center of the receptacle and inwardly thereoffconsists of a cam lever- 16 having a cam head 17fpivoted with- V by the cam lever will not be accidentally. swung outwardly to release the movable in the handhole 9 of the end of the receptacle adjacent the movable member by means of a vertical bolt or pin 18 extending through the cam head at a'point eccentric therein and having its opposite ends jour nafledyin the top and bottom of the hand hole. .Itwill be noted that the nose 19 of thecam head 17 is extended to'be arranged between the pivotpin and the handle where} member 11 when it is locked and when pressure is exerted againstthe movable member by-"the articles disposed in the container. It" will also be noted that the handle of the cam lever is arranged in one of the recesses 10 when the lever isunlocked or in an inoperative position and will be disposed in the other groove or recess 10 when the lever is arranged in apositionto hold or force the movable member toward the center of the receptacler :In-Figs; 4c-and 5 I have shown the form of-lmovable member 11 which is at present preferred. This member consists of either a solid or a sectional'bar 20, the ends of which are each provided with a horizontal rib 21 adapted to be slidably received in grooves 22 in the sides 7of the receptacle.

These grooves are of course, arranged parallel to the-bottom of the receptacle and directly opposite each other so that the board will have free sliding movement therein. The bar in the present instance is shown as consisting of a pair of sections 23 which are slightly separated at their inner ends and connected in such relation by a pair of plates 24 one of which is secured to the relative upper faces ofthe inner ends of the sections 23, andthe other secured to the relative lower faces of-the sections as shown; These'plates are secured to the sections at each end by a fastening device 25, it'beifng noted that one fastening device is provided for each end of each plate Q hwhereby the sections can pivot slightly at their inner ends and conform to' one end of articles placed in the receptacle. The spring 14:, and

cam lever'16 are of course used inconjun'c tion with either a rigid or sectional b-ar'QO the spring 14 of the movable member 'll to In use and when itis desired to pack the permit thelatter to be pushed close up against the end 8 having the oam lever'associated therewith. The bottles orarticles are then'positioned in the box'until it is filled after which the cam lever is'swung to move the member 11 into 'engagement'with the ends of the articles disposed adjacent the same. The lever is swung until the nose 19 of the cam head engagesthe spring 14, and

the handled the lever is 'disposedtinits' proper groovelor recess 10. "By the inteizposition of thespring between the-camand the movable member meansis provided whereby the latter may properly adapt itself to and engage the articles in the container.

WVith the cam lever in either'one'of its ern f treme positions, it willbe seen that. the finT gers of the person-intending to' transport the receptacle can be readily. inserted; into the hand holesin the ordinary manneri "Nh'en it is desiredto' move the articles fromfthe container, the: cam lever is simply'iswung to its opposite position to release. binding ene gagement of the movable 'member upon the articles; 1

The foregoing description and. accom panying drawings have'reference to-what' might be'considered the approved formof my invention. I desire itz-to be understood that I may make such changesin the iconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts, materials, dimensions, etc. as may prove expedient and fall Within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is I 1. A receptacle, a member arranged therein to vary the interior size thereof, and a cam associated with the I receptacle and adapted to move the member inwardly thereof.

2. A receptacle having a hand hole in an end thereof, a movable member arranged in the receptacle and having its ends slidably engaged with the sides of the receptacle, a bowed spring secured to said member and arranged opposite said hand hole, and a cam lever ivotally mounted in'said hand hole and adapted for engagement with the bowed sprin for movin the movable member.

3. %n combination with a receptacle, a member arranged therein to vary the in telior size thereof, means associated with the box and adapted to move the member inwardly thereof, and spring means disposed between said last mentioned means and said member whereby the spring means will be flexedo when said member engages articles positioned in the. receptacle.

4. In combination with a receptacle, a movable member arranged in the receptacle and having its ends slidably engaged with the sides of the receptacle, a cam lever piv- I otally'connected to the receptacle for moving i said member, and a bowed spring positioned between said member andthe cam lever for a the purpose-set forth.

5. In combination with a receptacle hav ing an opening in one of its ends and a JAMES nnarrnnws. Witnesses Gno. R. FERGUSON, O. MOBBY. 

